AN: Here it is! Much quicker than I'm sure everyone was expecting haha. But I got my act together, I was determined to finish this. Thanks to everyone who stuck with this. I hope everyone liked it, let me know what you think.

Thanks to my wonderful Beta who got this back in record timing, macs ace. You're wonderful my dear.

ENJOY

The words hadn't stopped, they just kept repeating over and over again, in the Doctor's. calm and soothing voice. "Everything looks to be clear Sam. We'll keep you on a six month check up period, and we'll get your port out in a few months"

Everything was going to be okay, and Sam couldn't believe it. He had waited for so long to hear the word remission. He never thought it would actually apply to him, but now that it was here, it seemed so surreal.

"Holy shit, I'm in remission."

Dean just looked at his baby brother, "Yeah Sammy, its over."

"I can't believe it Dean… what the hell are we going to do now?" Sam asked with uncertainty as he climbed into the Impala. "Look at me… I can't go back to hunting like this." He continued as he pulled at the added weight on his neck.

Dean just smiled, "Don't worry about it Sammy, I'll have you back in fighting form before you know it. Now I can actually kick your ass, instead of coddle you."

Sam remained silent, he could feel his heart racing, he was starting to panic. Everything seemed so uncertain, what if he relapsed? What if he couldn't get back into shape? What if the Yellow Eyed Demon came for him before he was ready? So many what if's bombarded the youngest Winchester. After having eight months of only one focus, one thing on his mind, it was as if the thoughts were moving so fast he couldn't separate them. They just moulded together into one big ball of worry.

"Tell that mind to slow down Sammy, we take things one at a time."

Sam just nodded, not sure how his brother could read him like a book, but glad of Dean's talents.

"One at a time" He muttered back, as he continued to play with the extra skin on his neck, "One at a time…"

EIGHT MONTHS LATER

Sam's shoes pounded against the hard cement, he tried to keep good running form, 'Toe to heel, toe to heel' he thought as he continued to push himself harder.

It was part of the routine Dean had set him up with, a routine their father would be proud of. Running and sparring every other day, and weight training everyday. It was tough, but invigorating. It had been the thing Sam needed to calm his fears and put his mind at ease. Dean had made sure that Sam was on the right path. Made sure that he was going to be okay.

It was dusk, and the sun was just setting as Sam started the home stretch, pushing his body even harder as he spotted the house in the distance. "Almost there, almost there" he chanted as he dug deep into his reserves.

He felt like his lungs were going to explode, and his dinner was ready to make a reappearance. But as soon as his feet hit the driveway, it was like all of the pain drifted away, as the endorphins kicked in and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment washed over him.

He heard the front door open as he continued to walk around, hoping to keep the lactic acid build up at bay before having a quick stretch.

"How was the run Sam?" Dean asked, another box in his hands as he brought it over to the impala. They were finally getting out of the house, and Dean had stayed behind to make sure that the house was spotless. Not only out of respect for Jim, but also to make sure no one ever knew they had lived there for so long.

Sam took a deep breath in as he tried to catch his breath and calm his heart. "Well you know, a run is a run."

"Yeah, I hate running, go wash up a bit, plans have changed, we're on the road tonight." Dean said as he closed the back door. "I have all of your stuff, the house is empty, if you use a towel bring it with you, and try and wipe as many finger prints as you can."

Sam nodded as he walked in, it was strange walking in to the now empty house. It had been their home, the first Winchester home since they had started hunting, and he was going to miss it.

THIRTY MINUTES LATER

Sam had been quick, trying to remember to wipe any spot he may have touched before joining his brother outside. "Ready?" He asked as he strode up to the passenger side.

"I was born ready." Dean replied as he hopped in to the drivers seat and started the car. The roar of the engine like music to Sam's ears, he had never heard anything so beautiful as they started to back out of the driveway and out onto the road.

"Lets get this show on the road" Dean yelled out as he turned the music up, and started to sing along with the song. 'Its good to be back' Sam thought as he, much to his brother's surprise, joined in with the words, reciting the song as if he had heard it yesterday.

FIVE HOURS LATER

It was the first long car ride Sam had had in over a year. He wasn't used to being all cramped up in the car, and it was taking a toll on him physically. His joints ached as they screamed out in frustration. But he didn't dare say anything, he knew how badly Dean wanted out of the town, wanted to get back to the fight. So instead he rested his head against the cool glass window, finding a brief moment of cool reprieve before slipping into darkness.

As of late he had been sleeping well, he didn't have half as many nightmares as he used to have. But when he did have one it was always quite the doozy, even if he couldn't remember it. All he knew was he woke up with Dean by his side chasing the hurt away. Just as he had done when they were kids. Hell just as Dean had done over the course of Sam's entire life.

The younger brother could hear himself groan just as he was starting to fall asleep. He had learned that when he made an involuntary noise before sleep took him he knew a nightmare was waiting for him. It was as if his body was trying to keep him awake, knowing his mind wouldn't want to continue down its nightmare filled path.

0o0o0o0o

It started like any other dream, he was in a hotel, one of many dumps that he and Dean had stayed at. There was nothing wrong with him, he just knew that he wasn't alone, but no matter how hard he searched he couldn't find the out of place individual. Until the room went dark and he could see her pale blue eyes.

"Its you again? Checking up on me, or more bad news?"

But the pale eyes just continued to stare from the corner. Sam wasn't sure what to do, something was different, the eyes were cold, and held nothing but despair.

"Congratulations Sammy." The woman seethed as Sam saw her white teeth shine through the darkness.

"Thanks…" he said as he watched her move forward.

"You know Sammy, I'm so proud of you" She said as her voice gurgled, a maggot sneaking past her teeth and falling to the floor.

Sam tried to move, to back away but he was stuck to his spot, "What the hell?"

"You didn't honestly think I was some sort of angel did you Sammy?" The gurgle echoed as more maggots continued to fall from her mouth and now from her eyes. "Sam, I'm your worst nightmare who was told to save you!" She yelled as she moved closer.

Sam tried to thrash out at the woman who had maggots falling out of all orifices. 'I hate maggots' he thought as he felt them fall against his skin, 'But I hate snakes more' he thought with wide eyes as he watched snakes start to move from the woman's nose to her mouth. "Shit, what the fuck is going on?" he screamed as he thrashed out even harder.

"If I had it my way Sam I would have let you die, but it would have been slow and painful. But there are people out there who want you alive… you can't escape what is going to happen to you Sammy!" She screamed back as her eyes turned from pale blue to endless pools of black. "You'll never be free!"

Sam screams mixed in with the woman's wails as the maggots and snakes began to encase his body, "No…. DEAN!"

Sam's eyes snapped open as he tried to get up, to fight off the maggots and snakes, only to be held down. He continued to cry out as he fought his restraints.

"Sam…Sammy"

It was a faint calling of his name, but Sam recognized it immediately.

"Dean?" he whimpered back as strong hands circled around him.

"Sam, calm down, I've got you"

Sam felt his body begin to relax as he looked up to his brothers face. His body laying on the cold ground as Dean held him tight against his chest. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Nightmare…" Was Deans only response as he continued to hold Sam's shaking form.

"Ohhh" Sam replied as he tried to remember what he had been dreaming about. "I'm good now."

"Are you sure?" Dean asked as he helped his brother to his feet. "Can you remember what it was about?" The older brother questioned, knowing the answer, Sam never remembered.

"No… it was just a dream Dean." Sam replied, "Lets just get back on the road and get to dad."

The older brother didn't argue as he watched Sam with worry in his eyes. He knew Sam was okay physically, but now he wasn't sure if he would be able to save his brother mentally. Dean wasn't sure what was going on in his brothers head, but it was something big, and the nightmares had gotten worse. Sam's thrashing in the car had caused Dean to pull over to the side of the road and lay Sam out on the ground, in hopes that his brother wouldn't hurt himself. The hellish nature of Sam's screams sent a foreboding chill through Deans body. "Yeah, lets get to dad."

0o0o

The woman watched the brothers start to drive off, a smile on her lips as remembered the nightmare she had just been a part of.

"Sweet dreams Sammy" She said as her eyes returned to the bottomless black. Her smile quickly fading as she felt pressure behind her eyes before they started to bleed.

"I've told you to leave him be." A gruff voice said from behind. The woman didn't need to turn to know who it was. She could feel his yellow eyes burning through her. "You've done what I've asked?"

Her eyes followed the impala, "Yes"

"Good, Its finally going to come to be, I knew you'd keep him alive. But let me make myself clear here darling"

The woman turned to face the yellow eyes that held nothing but death and destruction.

"I've already marked Sam Winchester, and just because you are in on this whole adventure, don't think I won't wipe you away for good. You're not the only one who can make up bad dreams darling, and lets be honest, who is the bigger nightmare here?"

She tried to keep her cool as the pressure grew behind her eyes. "You may be powerful, but I still control you Lilith." The yellow eyed demon whispered as the woman hunched over in pain. "Leave the boy alone, or answer to me."

She could feel the pressure lift as her master vanished. She hated being controlled, and she hated that Sam Winchester was going to be her masters second in command. "I'll never answer to a human." She muttered as she followed her leaders steps and vanished into the wind.

AN: well? Well? What do you think… was it an okay ending? Did you all like the story? It's the first long story I've ever completed. I really hope everyone liked it! Thanks to everyone who stuck with this through all the long updates all the way to the end. Let me know what you think, it would be much appreciated!